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Unlikely Savior of Jews 
Methods of Prosperity newsletter no. 72. Sam Zell.

TL;DR

In 1940, Nazi forces advanced through Eastern Europe. 200 Polish Jews sought help at the Japanese consulate in Lithuania, hoping to escape. 

Japan and Nazi Germany had an alliance. Japan’s policy allowed Jewish refugees to access its territories. Most countries, including the U.S., turned them away. 

Chiune Sugihara was Japan’s Consul General in Lithuania. He defied orders from Tokyo. Sugihara issued visas to these refugees, risking his career and reputation. His actions led to his demotion and eventual expulsion from the foreign ministry. Still, Sugihara continued issuing visas. Japanese superiors reassigned him. 

Sugihara saved an estimated 6,000 Jewish lives. His motivation stemmed from a sense of shared humanity. Sugihara’s upbringing placed him in a household that welcomed and cared for guests. That affected him. 

Israel later honored him as Righteous Among the Nations for his courageous efforts.

My personality archetype type pairs well with someone who is reliable, focused, and great at planning.

The story of Sugihara sets up the next section of this newsletter. 

The son of a Jewish couple from Poland who Sugihara helped was a man named Sam Zell. The following is his story. 

To be continued...